Energy-Saving Illuminated Cosmetic Container

ABSTRACT

An energy-saving illuminated cosmetic container includes a container including a cover, an externally threaded hollow projection on the cover; a cover; a carrier in the cover and including an axial passageway, threads on an inner surface of the passageway for threadedly securing to the external threads, and an internal conductor; an illumination assembly in the carrier and including a light sensor, a light, a positive electrode member at one end, and a negative electrode member at the other end; a cosmetic stick including an applicator at one end and an attaching member at the other end; a sealing ring put on the cosmetic stick; and a biasing member having one end urging against the passageway to electrically connect to the negative electrode member, and the other end urging against a negative electrode of a cell assembly. A positive electrode of the cell assembly is spaced from the conductor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to cosmetic containers and more particularly to an energy-saving illuminated cosmetic container capable of lowering brightness of a light or even turning off light when the ambient light is bright so that energy of cells can be saved.

2. Description of Related Art

A conventional illuminated cosmetic container 90 is shown in FIG. 7 and comprises two lights 91 powered by two cells 92 connected in series. However, means for sensing ambient light is not provided by the cosmetic container 90. After opening the cap of the cosmetic container 90, the lights 91 may continue to illuminate even when the cosmetic container 90 is in a sufficiently lit environment. This can adversely quickly consume the cells 92. Further, replacement of the cosmetic container 90 with a new one is required when the cells 92 are consumed.

Thus, the need for improvement still exists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a cosmetic container comprising a container induding an internal space, a cover releasably mounted on a forward opening of the container, an axial, hollow projection formed on the cover and having an axial passage communicating with the internal space, and external threads; a cover including an interior space; a carrier disposed in the interior space and including an axial passageway, internal threads on a portion of an inner surface of the passageway for threadedly securing to the external threads, and a releasable internal conductor adjacent to the internal threads; an illumination assembly disposed in the carrier and including a light sensor, at least one light electrically connected to the light sensor, a positive electrode member at one end proximate both the light sensor and the at least one light, and a negative electrode member at the other end distal both the light sensor and the at least one light; a cosmetic stick including a releasable applicator at one end, and an attaching member at the other end and disposed in the passageway, the attaching member having an urging element; a resilient sealing ring including a hole placed on a rear portion of the cosmetic stick adjacent to the attaching member, and a recess; and a biasing member having one end urging against an opening of the passageway to electrically connect to the negative electrode member, and the other end urging against a negative electrode of a cell assembly wherein a positive electrode of the cell assembly is spaced from the releasable internal conductor which is electrically connected to the positive electrode member.

Preferably, the container further comprises a plugging member including an axial hole communicating with the internal space, and an annular flange at one end, the annular flange disposed at an opening of the passage to urge against the sealing ring.

Preferably, there is further a mirror provided one out side of the container.

Preferably, the releasable applicator is either a sponge head or a lip brush.

Preferably, the light is a light-emitting diode (LED).

Preferably, the light sensor is a photoresistor.

The invention has the following advantages and benefits in comparison with the conventional art: An individual does not have to use the mirror and a flashlight in make-up when using the energy-saving illuminated cosmetic container. Brightness of a light is lowered or even the light is turned off when the ambient light is bright so that energy of the cells can be saved to prolong the use. A frequent replacement of the cells is eliminated due to the energy saving. The plugging member can prevent excessive lotion from being used by rubbing the applicator and prevent leaking from occurring.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an energy-saving illuminated cosmetic container according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the energy-saving illuminated cosmetic container viewing from the left;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the energy-saving illuminated cosmetic container viewing from the right;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the energy-saving illuminated cosmetic container;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the energy-saving illuminated cosmetic container with the cap removed and the lights turned on;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the energy-saving illuminated cosmetic container; and

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional illuminated cosmetic container with the cap removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6, an energy-saving illuminated cosmetic container in accordance with the invention comprises the following components as discussed in detail below.

A mirror 80 is provided on an opening of one surface of a parallelepiped container 10. The container 10 includes an internal space 101, a cover 11 releasably mounted on a forward, bossed opening of the container 10, an axial, hollow projection 12 formed on the cover 11 and having an axial passage 121 communicating with the space 101, and external threads 122. A parallelepiped cover 20 includes an interior space 201. A carrier 30 includes an axial passageway 301, internal threads 302 on a portion of an inner surface of the passageway 301 for threadedly securing to the external threads 122, thereby locking the carrier 30, and a releasable internal conductor 31 adjacent to the internal threads 302. The carrier 30 is disposed in the space 201. An illumination assembly 40 disposed between the conductor 31 and a forward opening of the carrier 30 and includes a light sensor 41, a light 42 electrically connected to the light sensor 41, a positive electrode 43 at one end proximate both the light sensor 41 and the light 42, and a negative electrode 44 at the other end distal both the light sensor 41 and the light 42. A cosmetic stick 50 includes a releasable applicator (e.g., a sponge head or a lip brush) 51 at one end, and an attaching member 52 at the other end and having an urging element 521. The attaching member 52 is disposed in the passageway 301. The container 10 further comprises a resilient sealing ring 15 including a hole 151 placed on a rear portion of the cosmetic stick 50 adjacent to the attaching member 52, and a recess 152 for allowing a portion of sealing ring 15 to resiliently dispose therein in response to compression of the sealing ring 15. A torsion spring 60 has one end urging against an opening of the passageway 301 to electrically connect to the negative electrode 44, and the other end urging against a negative electrode of one of two cells 70 connected in series. The positive electrode of the other cell 70 is spaced from the conductor 31 which is electrically connected to the positive electrode 43. The container 10 further comprises a plugging member 13 including an axial hole 131 communicating with the space 101, and an annular flange 132 at one end, the flange disposed at an opening of the passage 121 to urge against the sealing ring 15.

Preferably, the light 42 is a light-emitting diode (LED).

Preferably, the light sensor 41 is a photoresistor.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 to 6 specifically, in a make-up operation an individual may threadedly unfasten the cover 11 to unlock the carrier 30, and remove the cover 11 out of the container 10 to expose the cosmetic stick 50. Then the individual may forward move the plugging member 13 along the cosmetic stick 50 to remove excess cosmetic lotion adhered on both the cosmetic stick 50 and the applicator 51. And in turn, the energized torsion spring 60 releases its elastic force to push the cells 70 outward until the positive electrode of the other cell 70 contacts the conductor 31. And in turn, electricity of the cells 70 supplies to the positive electrode 43. Then the electricity is supplied to the light 42 through the negative electrode 44. As a result, the light 42 emits light. At the same time, the light sensor 41 senses the intensity of the ambient light. The resistance of the light sensor 41 is decreased if the intensity of the ambient light is high. And in turn, electricity supplied to the light 42 is decreased to lower the intensity of the light output of the light 42 (i.e., the light 42 is dimmed) or even turn off the light 42 if the intensity of the ambient light is greater than a predetermined value. To the contrary, the resistance of the light sensor 41 is increased if the intensity of the ambient light is low. And in turn, electricity supplied to the light 42 is increased to increase the intensity of the light output of the light 42 (i.e., the light 42 is sufficiently lit). After finishing the application, the individual may secure the cover 11 to the carrier 30 by threadedly fastening the external threads 122 and the internal threads 302 together. At this position, the cosmetic stick 50 including the applicator 51 is disposed in the space 101, the sealing ring 15 urges against the flange 132 of the plugging member 13, and the urging element 521 of the attaching member 52 urges against an annular edge of an end of the other cell 70 to push the cells 70 inward and compress the torsion spring 60. As such, the cells 70 are spaced from the conductor 31, i.e., no electricity being supplied from the cells 70 to the positive electrode 43. As a result, the illumination assembly 40 is deactivated and the light 42 is turned off.

The invention has the following characteristics and advantages: An individual does not have to use a mirror and a flashlight in make-up when using energy-saving illuminated cosmetic container. Brightness of the light can be lowered or even the light is turned off when the ambient light is bright so that energy of the cells can be saved to prolong the use. A frequent replacement of the cells is eliminated due to the energy saving. The plugging member can prevent excessive lotion from being used by rubbing the applicator and prevent leaking from occurring.

While the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modifications within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A energy-saving illuminated cosmetic container comprising: a container including an internal space, a cover releasably mounted on a forward opening of the container, an axial, hollow projection formed on the cover and having an axial passage communicating with the internal space, and external threads; a cover including an interior space; a carrier disposed in the interior space and including an axial passageway, internal threads on a portion of an inner surface of the passageway for threadedly securing to the external threads, and a releasable internal conductor adjacent to the internal threads; an illumination assembly disposed in the carrier and including a light sensor, at least one light electrically connected to the light sensor, a positive electrode member at one end proximate both the light sensor and the at least one light, and a negative electrode member at the other end distal both the light sensor and the at least one light; a cosmetic stick including a releasable applicator at one end, and an attaching member at the other end and disposed in the passageway, the attaching member having an urging element; a resilient sealing ring including a hole placed on a rear portion of the cosmetic stick adjacent to the attaching member, and a recess; and a biasing member having one end urging against an opening of the passageway to electrically connect to the negative electrode member, and the other end urging against a negative electrode of a cell assembly wherein a positive electrode of the cell assembly is spaced from the releasable internal conductor which is electrically connected to the positive electrode member.
 2. The cosmetic container of claim 1, wherein the container further comprises a plugging member including an axial hole communicating with the internal space, and an annular flange at one end, the annular flange disposed at an opening of the passage to urge against the sealing ring.
 3. The cosmetic container of claim 1, further comprising a mirror provided one out side of the container.
 4. The cosmetic container of claim 1, wherein the releasable applicator is either a sponge head or a lip brush.
 5. The cosmetic container of claim 1, wherein the light is a light-emitting diode (LED).
 6. The cosmetic container of claim 1, wherein the light sensor is a photoresistor. 